Balancing safety and effectiveness in colonoscopy for older adults: a narrative review

Abstract

Colonoscopy is becoming more widely used in older adults for screening and diagnostic evaluation of colorectal cancer. While advanced age itself is not a contraindication, elderly patients often present unique challenges, including frailty, comorbidities and polypharmacy, which increase the risk of complications during the procedure. Rather than chronological age alone, frailty is important in risk assessment and clinical decision-making before performing a colonoscopy. This review summarizes recent evidence, particularly from large cohort studies and clinical guidelines, to provide a balanced evaluation of the advantages and disadvantages of performing colonoscopies on older adults. Ultimately, we emphasize the importance of judicious patient selection, customized bowel preparation and tailored sedation management to optimize the safety and effectiveness of colonoscopy in this vulnerable group.